Aston Martin Rapide E makes dynamic debut in Monaco

Following a glittering public reveal at Auto Shanghai just last month, Aston Martin's first all-electric model - Rapide E - has wowed the crowds in Monaco, after taking to the city's world-famous streets for its first public demonstration ahead of the Formula E Monaco E-Prix.

Taking part in two dedicated on-track sessions throughout the day, the British luxury marque's revolutionary new model was put to the test by Aston Martin works driver and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Darren Turner. Billed as the most powerful Rapide model ever, the car's twin rear-mounted electric motors deliver a combined target output of 603bhp and a colossal 950Nm of torque.

Rapide E is powered by an 800V electrical architecture battery - encased in a carbon fibre and Kevlar casing - with a 65kWh installed capacity using over 5600 lithium-ion 18650 format cylindrical cells. This bespoke battery pack lies where the original 6.0-litre V12, gearbox and fuel tank were located, with the 800V system allowing for more efficient charging and greatly improved thermal characteristics over existing electrical architectures.